Kirk Cousins
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Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins earned his $10 million 2026 roster bonus after the Falcons opted to not trade him at the NFL deadline.
Although there were inklings of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins being open to reuniting with the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL trade deadline passed with no deal struck.
That’s not entirely bad news for Cousins.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio broke down the latest wrinkle of Cousins’ four-year, $180 million contract, which included a guaranteed $90 million across his first two seasons in Atlanta.
By opting to keep Cousins on the roster, the Falcons have subjected themselves to a $10 million roster bonus in 2026 that is officially guaranteed to Cousins despite him serving as a backup to Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons could avoid paying that $10 million by releasing Cousins before the fifth day of the 2026 league year, which would be fronted by whichever team would sign him.
“There’s a chance, depending on the looming quarterback carousel, that someone will pay him more than $10 million next year, which would stop the bleeding of Arthur Blank’s money at $90 million,” Florio wrote. “Regardless, Cousins will have gotten $90 million for 15 games. That’s $6 million per game. Which continues to prove that Cousins is perhaps the best quarterback-businessman in NFL history.”
How Much Has Kirk Cousins Earned in His NFL Career?
As Florio put it, Cousins has had one of the greatest financial runs in NFL history.
A 2012 fourth-round pick, Cousins was projected as no more than a backup quarterback in the NFL but has turned in an illustrious career.
The four-time Pro Bowler leveraged several franchise tags placed on him in Washington before he became the first quarterback to sign the first fully guaranteed multi-year deal with the Vikings in 2018. Cousins agreed to two additional extensions in Minnesota before he signed with the Falcons in 2024.
In total, Cousins has earned $331.69 million after accounting for the 2026 roster bonus that became scheduled to him following the trade deadline.
He ranks second all-time in career earnings behind only Matthew Stafford ($408.32 million) and Aaron Rodgers ($394.31 million).
Here’s a full breakdown of Cousins’ yearly earnings in the NFL:
Year Age Team(s) Status CashTotal CashCumulative
2012 24 WAS
2013 25 WAS $1,342,688
2014 26 WAS $1,912,688
2015 27 WAS $2,736,695
2016 28 WAS Active / Franchise Tag $19,953,000 $22,689,695
2017 29 WAS Active / Franchise Tag $23,950,935 $46,640,630
2018 30 MIN $26,000,000 $72,640,630
2019 31 MIN $28,000,000 $100,640,630
2020 32 MIN $40,028,856 $140,669,486
2021 33 MIN $21,000,000 $161,669,486
2022 34 MIN $40,000,000 $201,669,486
2023 35 MIN $30,000,000 $231,669,486
2024 36 ATL $62,522,768 $294,192,254
2025 37 ATL $27,500,000 $321,692,254
2026 38 ATL Roster Bonus $10,000,000 $331,692,254
Total $331,692,254 $331,692,254
Falcons’ Kirk Cousins Open to Trade to Vikings
As the Vikings faced uncertainty with J.J. McCarthy battling injury the previous six weeks leading to the trade deadline, Cousins’ name resurfaced as a potential trade candidate to Minnesota.
The Vikings needed a replacement for Carson Wentz, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 8 before McCarthy’s return from an ankle injury.
Minnesota’s season was on the line with the Vikings, 3-4 entering a Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions, holding a 5% chance of making the postseason.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that he believed Cousins would be “very open” to returning to Minnesota by trade, even as a backup to McCarthy. That would be a costly move that would spark debate about who should start for the rest of the season.
However, McCarthy came through with a clutch performance, scoring three touchdowns in a 27-24 win over the Lions that thwarted any possibility of a veteran quarterback trade in Minnesota.
The Vikings move forward with McCarthy and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer as their top two quarterbacks, along with veteran John Wolford on the practice squad.
The Cousins conversations will likely simmer down until next year, when Cousins could become available via free agency if Atlanta decides to release him.